Grêmio give up on signing São Paulo defender João Filipe

Grêmio have given up hope on signing São Paulo defender João Filipe as a replacement for the outgoing Gilberto Silva and Naldo, who have joined Atlético Mineiro and Udinese respectively.

João Filipe, 24, who joined São Paulo from Botafogo in 2011, has impressed Grêmio with his performances at the Morumbi and the Porto Alegre club were hoping to add him to their squad ahead of the start of pre-season training next week.

However, the club’s advisor Omar Selaimen told Globo Esporte that the player, who is nicknamed “Blackenbauer” and has a contract until 2016 in São Paulo, will not be joining Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s side.

He said: “We can not get right with the São Paulo, so João Filipe will not play at Grêmio.

“That's not the name that we will bring. I do not like talking about time, but we need the urgency. By the 3rd, the date of pre-season, we will announce the reinforcement. It is well underway.”

Selaimen also revealed that they had not been in negotiations with Catania’s Nicolás Spolli, PSG’s Diego Lugano or Bolivar from rival’s Internacional.

“I don’t think it will cause surprise to anyone. The idea is to bring a player in to play the left side and that is knowledgeable, a kind of profile like Gilberto Silva.”